Loading profile...

Loading profile. Please wait . . .

Brigantiaea leucoxantha (Sprengel) R. Sant. & Hafellner
Forest Bark-fire

Photo © Don Hunter, Troup Co., Ga., 22 May 2014
range map button NatureServe button Report Button About button

Federal Protection: No US federal protection

State Protection: No Georgia state protection

Global Rank: G4G5

State Rank: SNR

Element Locations Tracked in Biotics: No

SWAP 2015 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): No

SWAP 2025 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): No

2025 SGCN Priority Tier:

Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 0

Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Mesic hardwood forests and swamps


Description

Pale green thallus with bright orange apothecia, the rims a shade lighter than the disks; disks sometimes discolor or darken with age or parasites, or appear whitish if partially eaten by foraging mollusks; thallus is rarely sorediate; FIELD ID: if fresh, unmistakable, given combination of pale green thallus & orange disks

Similar Species

Caloplaca pollinii can look like an ill or senescent member of this species; Letrouitia parabola has a dull olive thallus, & consistently dark disks contrasting with orange rims; both are relatively rare

Related Rare Species

None

Habitat

Mesic hardwood forests & swamps; substrates: mostly hardwood bark (48% Quercus spp.); 1 record each from Juniperus & Taxodium, & 1 from ultramafic rock (dunite)

Life History

Corticolous lichenized fungus; photobiont a green, unicellular alga

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Statewide (though no records from the Cumberland Plateau)

Threats

Harvesting old-growth hardwood forests

Georgia Conservation Status

Uncommon & local

Conservation Management Recommendations

Conserve mature hardwood forests

References

Brodo, I. M. 2001. Lichens of North America. Yale University Press, New Haven, Conn.

Brodo, I. M. 2016. Keys to lichens of North America: revised and expanded. Yale University Press, New Haven, Conn.

Esslinger, T. L. 2021. A cumulative checklist for the lichen-forming, lichenicolous and allied fungi of the continental United States and Canada. Version 24. Opuscula Philolichenum 20: 100-394.

Authors of Account

Malcolm Hodges

Date Compiled or Updated

6 March 2022